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Too many old devices linked to our accounts

Entra ID Authentication Methods and Devices contain things you no longer recognize. Time for a cleanup hour, once a quarter.

Try this first

  1. 1Entra > Devices > All devices. Sort by 'Activity' or 'Last sign-in'. Anything inactive for more than 90 days is a candidate.
  2. 2For each suspect device: check the 'Owner' column. Still the same user? Still working here? Did they not get a new laptop ages ago?
  3. 3Select and disable (do not delete immediately, wait 30 days, leaves room for 'oh wait, that laptop is in the attic').
  4. 4Same for MFA methods: per user (Entra > Users > Authentication methods) you see all phones and authenticator apps. Remove old numbers.
  5. 5Schedule this every three months. Not yearly, the pile gets too big.

When to bring us in

No idea which devices are 'real'? We can look at sign-in logs alongside the owner column and figure out what is safe to remove.

See also

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